Chapter 63
“…Why are you suddenly making such a strange joke?”
“I’m not joking.”
“Alnazir, this really isn’t the time for jokes.”
Fay dismissed his sudden statement as a bad joke. His expression was far too serious for it to be playful, but he had a history. He’d once claimed, without batting an eye, that he didn’t even have a heart. This had to be another attempt to startle her.
“Can’t you see it? That golden tide, more vicious than blood?”
Fay said, pointing at the enemy.
“They’re humans who’ve come to kill witches, to kill me. You said you’d protect me from them!”
“I won’t let you die.”
“Then—!”
“But I have no intention of honoring the contract we made.”
She couldn’t understand him at all. Even when she warned that she’d get angry if he kept fooling around, he didn’t so much as flinch.
“Fay… what’s going on?”
Zynie asked cautiously as she watched.
“Well, figures. What help could Fay possibly be?”
“I didn’t expect anything anyway.”
The casual remarks from her companions cut straight into Fay’s chest. She clenched her fists and glared at Alnazir. Normally she would’ve demanded an explanation, clinging to him until she got one. But with everyone watching, pride took over.
“Do you know what happens when someone dares to break a contract with a witch?”
She threatened, lifting the finger she’d been pointing at the enemy.
“You won’t walk away unscathed.”
“Burned alive. I read that too.”
Alnazir replied calmly. There wasn’t a trace of fear or concern in his voice, none at all about his own fate.
“Why are you doing this? You’re putting me in a terrible position!””
Fay hissed, lowering her voice so the other witches wouldn’t hear.
“This isn’t a joke! You said you’d become my invoked!”
“So I could stay here.”
“Then all the more reason to keep our contract!”
“An invoked is one whose contract never ends. I shouldn’t have agreed so easily.”
It was clear he’d completely misunderstood what being an invoked meant. Fay grabbed his arm, insisting he listen, but the moment flames erupted across his body, she recoiled in shock.
It was the penalty for violating the contract.
“So this is the punishment? It’s not very hot. Guess this human body burns easily.”
Alnazir admired, watching his arm and leg burn as if they belonged to someone else. In an instant, all that remained where he’d stood were charred bones and black ash.
“…Did Fay just argue with a man and burn him to death?”
Staring blankly at the remains, someone muttered in disbelief.
“He was the one who lied about being a summoned creature. I’d do the same.”
“Yeah. A fraud got what he deserved. Burning’s too good for him.”
The witches didn’t fully understand what had happened, but instinctively they took Fay’s side.
“Even if he wouldn’t listen, burning him alive is a bit cruel—”
“Shh. Not now.”
Anyone who tried to object was quickly silenced. The looks directed at Fay shifted—from pity or disappointment to concern. When they asked if she was all right, she couldn’t bring herself to answer.
She stared silently at the white bones amid the black ash.
Then, suddenly, a finger bone twitched.
As if forming a fist, the fingers curled inward, ash clinging to the bones and gathering together.
He was reviving.
“What… what is that?”
The witches gasped and instinctively gripped their staffs. Fay stepped forward, staring down at the moving bones without flinching.
As if recognizing her presence, the bones took a step toward her.
“Fay! Don’t just stand there!”
Virelda shouted, yanking her back. She then snapped at the others.
“If this is someone’s joke, stop it now!”
Was it you? You did this, didn’t you? She pointed at each witch in turn, snarling. Startled, they all shook their heads, insisting it wasn’t them.
Meanwhile, flesh and muscle began to knit themselves back onto the bones. Golden eyes opened.
“Eek! It’s that man from before!”
A witch screamed, pointing. Where her finger aimed stood the very man who had burned to death moments earlier—whole, unharmed, and very much alive.
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